Divorce, Stalking and Protective Orders

[Lady Justice depiction from ehow.com]

As Augusta, Georgia divorce attorneys, we sometimes receive questions about the availability of domestic violence protective orders, (or restraining orders), in Georgia. Generally, there are several ways to get help if your worthless spouse, "Sluggo," gets out of hand.

First and foremost, please call law enforcement if you are afraid for your life, or if a crime in being committed.

In addition, you can discuss with your divorce lawyer whether or not to seek a domestic violence protective order, especially if there has been a history of abuse. While obtaining such an order may add an extra step or two to your divorce, your divorce attorney will be able to help you get the protection you deserve. 

Also, your divorce lawyer may recommend simply relying upon the protection contained in the automatic domestic standing order, which is generally issued by a judge in every contested divorce case in Georgia. This order contains language which expressly forbids domestic violence, (and would therefore support a contempt motion if Sluggo gets out of hand, even if you elect not to go the extra step of seeking a separate protective order).

Finally, you might also consider seeking help from a family violence shelter near you. Here, in Augusta, Georgia, we are fortunate to have the Augusta Shelter which helps abused women every day.

I hope this general information about family violence helps! Again, please discuss all such issues about divorce with your own divorce lawyer!

Cayce Vice: Another Tragic Case of Domestic Violence

As divorce lawyers in Augusta, Georgia, we sometimes see, firsthand, in our divorce cases, the tragic results of family violence.  As a former career prosecutor, I prosecuted many cases involving domestic abuse.  Here, in Augusta, this past week, our community experienced a tragic loss of a 21 year old woman who was found dead in her apartment.  Police reportedly believe this young woman, Cayce Vice, is yet another tragic victim of domestic violence.  A prayer vigil was held by family and friends to remember her life.

We should likewise remember all the victims of family violence around the country.  According to Futures Without Violence, three women are murdered, on average, each day in this country by their husbands or boy friends.  Also, according to the Department of Justice, about 3.4 million people, mostly women, are the victims of stalking each year.

But that's enough about statistics.  Let us remember that these numbers are actually real people with families and friends -- like Cayce Vice -- who deserved to live and be left alone, but who are victims of these horrible crimes.